OSHA Penalties Annual Adjustments for 2020

BY: Carl Habekost, Esq.

Since 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has increased OSHA penalties annually based on the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index, after a 26 year increase hiatus. The DOL is required to adjust maximum OSHA penalties for inflation annually by the 15th of January. Accordingly, the maximum OSHA civil penalties for 2020 have been adjusted as follows, effective January 15, 2020:

Violation Type

2019 Penalties

2020 Penalties

Other than Serious/Posting Requirements

$13,260

$13,494

Serious

$13,260

$13,494

Repeat

$132,598

$134,937

Willful

$132,598

$134,937

Failure to Abate

$13,260/day

$13,494/day

While OSHA violations have decreased significantly and now stand at a 10-year low, the penalty amounts have trended in the opposite direction.